Shih-Tzu behaviour.

Adviceme

Hi all,

Just wondering if anybody on here has experience with Shih-Tzus?
I have a one year old boy, whom I love a lot. Only problem is, I admittedly didn't train him properly and let him get away with a lot.

Now, despite all my efforts to correct his behaviours, he doesn't do a thing I say. He chews EVERYTHING and whenever I'm not around him he pees and poops inside. I even get the feeling that he does it out of spite? He also bites pretty hard even though I know he's only playing.

Don't get me wrong, I love him very very much but he is wearing me down with this behaviour. I've tried nearly every form of correction and I've also tried to be consistent.

Is it too late for his behaviour to be changed?

Please no judgement x

Bunnyslippers

It's not too late to change his behaviour, but sounds like you need a dog trainer as he's got to start from scratch by the sounds of it! And dogs never do anything out of spite - they don't understand that concept, he's peeing and pooping probably for a number of reasons, firstly because he's never been taught where and when to go and he has no routine and no rules! Routine for dogs is very important and he needs to start again as if you were training a puppy, although it will take far more effort as he's happily doing as he pleases and has been for a year!

I'd start by confining him to a room such as the kitchen with cleanable floors - get a baby gate, so he can't pee or poop all over the house. I'd scrub with an enzyme cleaner anywhere he has been as he will keep going back to those spots as they will still smell, I'd keep him out of the rest of the house for a year or so until he has a routine set and is consistently going outside, crate training may also help. As soon as he wakes in the morning take him straight out for a pee/poop and praise like crazy, do this every hour as you would for a puppy so he gets the whole idea, do not come in until he does his business!

As for chewing I'd say that's down to boredom and attention seeking not to mention you've not taught him boundaries when it comes to biting so he doesn't understand what is appropriate - a sharp very loud yelp from you - enough to stop him in his tracks, and then ignoring him and stopping the game are usually good at making them realise that it's not acceptable behaviour! Exercise and toys like a stuffed kong/treat ball or raw bones from the butcher are the best to keep him busy when you're not around.
He also needs a lot of walks, he's still a pup and needs all that energy channelled somewhere! And as he's now a year old make sure you feed him at the same time everyday so you can get his gut in a routine too so you know when roughly he will want to poop.

A dog trainer will help you establish a routine that suits you and be able to sort out the biting too.

tk123

Adviceme wrote: »

I've tried nearly every form of correction and I've also tried to be consistent.

What forms have you used as this may explain the behaviour?